Oct. 24, 2008
STANFORD, Calif. - The fifth-ranked Stanford women's soccer team continued its winning ways, earning a 3-1 victory over visiting Arizona this evening at Laird Q. Cagan Stadium. Freshman Lindsay Taylor put away two in the second half, while classmate Teresa Noyola added one as well to bring her season total to five.
The first half was uneventful on the score sheet, but there were plenty of action to go around. The Wildcats posted the game's first shot just 22 seconds in, taking advantage of a flat start from the Cardinal, and earned one more shot before Stanford was able to start its attack in the 11th minute, when freshman Camille Levin put an attempt on goal that required a save from Arizona goalkeeper Chelsea McIntyre.
The Cardinal then launched a spree of attacks at the goal, recording five shots in a matter of seven minutes. Stanford would eventually rain 15 shots, nine of them on goal, on the Wildcats in the half, but was unable to convert. Sophomore goalkeeper Kira Maker needed to make two saves on Arizona's three shots, leaving the score tied nil-nil at half.
The Cardinal came out a new team after the break, and immediately began to attack the Wildcat defense with a determination that was primarily absent in the first half. Finally, success came not long after the game restarted as Noyola stole the ball off of an Arizona misplay just three minutes in, dribbled, and hit a perfectly weighted pass through the back line. Taylor ran on to the ball, took a few touches and then slipped the ball past the keeper's left and into the corner of the net for her 13th goal of the season.
Just after taking a 1-0 lead, Stanford received a scare, as the Wildcats took advantage of an attack on the left side of the field. Arizona's London King hit a shot that looked to be going in as it passed Maker, but junior Ali Riley denied her with a kicking clearance near the far post. Not long after, things went back to the other end of the field, and senior Marisa Abegg nearly made it 2-0 in the 51st minute with a header off a cross, but luckily for the Wildcats, it clanged off the crossbar.
The Cardinal eventually got its second of the game on a beautiful passing sequence around the perimeter of the penalty box in the 63rd minute. Junior Kristin Stannard, who was to the keeper's right just outside the box, scooted the ball over to Christen Press near the penalty arc. Press hesitated just long enough for Noyola to get into position on the keeper's right and slid the ball over to her. Noyola took one touch and before placing the ball into the far left corner of the net to increase the lead by two.
Stanford was banging on the door for their third, and four minutes and 16 seconds after the second goal, got what they were looking for as Taylor struck again for her 14th tally of the season. This time it would be fellow rookie Levin who fed her the ball, and Taylor's finish was almost identical to Noyola's goal, except for being from the opposite side.
Arizona spoiled the Cardinal's bid for its fourth straight 3-0 home victory in the 74th minute, when they were awarded a penalty kick following a Stanford foul in the penalty box. The Wildcats' Karina Camacho stepped up to the spot and blasted the ball past Maker, who guessed incorrectly on the strike.
At the final whistle, the 3-1 total stood, giving the Cardinal its 15th victory of the year and preserving its undefeated record of 15-0-1 (5-0-0 Pac-10).
Head coach Paul Ratcliffe, who with the win tonight earned his 78th victory at Stanford to become the program's most winning coach in history, was mostly pleased with his team's performance.
"We needed to be more aggressive and go after the other team in the first half, I thought we were being a little too hesitant. In the second half, I thought we did a better job of taking it to them and we attacked them on the wings and made the great chances that produced our fantastic goals."
He had plenty of praise for his freshman as well.
"They've been getting it done for us all year. They are having great seasons and they really came alive in the second half."
Stanford will next take to the pitch Sunday against Arizona State in its final regular season home match, which will also be serving as `Senior Day' for the Cardinal class of 2009. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.